Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge processor could finally bring Retina displays to our Macs, after the company announced support for ‘4K displays’ last week. That’s a display with a staggering resolution of 4096×4096 pixels.

What’s more, not only can Ivy Bridge processors support one 4K display, but they can handle video processing for 4K QuadHD video as well, according to VR-Zone:

Not only can the MFX engine display up to 4096 x 4096 pixels on a single monitor, but it can also handle video processing for 4K QuadHD video as well. Remember when, two years ago, Jen Hsun Huang at Nvidia for the first time encouraged 4K resolution – at that time 3840×2400 or as he called it XHD2, for ultra realistic gaming too, to use the extra pixels to justify the high end card need? Now, what a fate, Intel is making it real on the – integrated graphics platform, of all. Now, can we have back those 16:10 3840×2400 or, better, 4096×2560 monitors?

So when will our Macs get these Ivy Bridge processors? Well, Ivy Bridge is Intel’s next-generation processor, and it integrates a much improved graphics processing unit. Our current Macs have just been updated to boast Intel’s Sandy Bridge CPUs, so it’s likely to be at least 2012 before we see Ivy Bridge processors in our Macs, despite support for these ultra high resolution displays in OS X Lion already.

Ivy Bridge processors will be a huge boost to computers like the MacBook Air and the Mac mini, which, unlike higher-end computers like the MacBook Pro and the iMac that have dedicated GPUs, rely on the integrated graphics chips from Intel.

Will you be waiting for Ivy Bridge processors before you pick up your next Mac?

Wait. 4096 x 4096? That’s a square resolution with black side bars.So people are still aiming for classic CRT monitor resolutions?

Chris

that’s the maximum that is supported, not what is used

Chris

Hope they’re ready for the next MBP redesign (if it’s early in 2012)

TylerHoj

I’ll be playing the waiting game until next summer. I like buying [Apple]computers in May/June as it is just after an assumed refresh and just before a spec bump.

David Austin Stephens

Yes, I’ll wait. On average, I refresh my computers at work and home about every 18 months and use the old ones to expand the business. Frankly though I’d prefer more SSD. A half a terabyte in the MacBook Pro is nice but not quite enough.

About the author

Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.

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